Red Deer-Mountain View MP Earl Dreeshen wants to run for a fourth time as a Conservative candidate in the 2019 federal election.

Dreeshen announced on Monday he will again seek the Conservative nomination for this riding, saying, “It’s a great honour to serve and represent the people of Red Deer – Mountain View.”

The former teacher and farmer, who first became Red Deer MP in 2008, was returned to office with a resounding endorsement from the electorate in 2015. And Dreeshen believes he’s upheld the public’s trust by working hard on behalf of Central Albertans.

He wants to keep fighting the carbon tax the federal Liberals are imposing with help from Alberta’s New Democrats, calling it “a Draconian tax grab.”

He also wants to change the tide now flowing against Alberta’s pipelines because of shifting federal regulations, and vows to battle against the Liberals’ “arrogance and sense of entitlement.”

Dreeshen believes he’s made a positive difference by sitting on the Agriculture Committee that removed the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly and improved farmers’ competitiveness. He also introduced legislation that eventually strengthened the Criminal Code of Canada by increasing prison times.

New Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer appointed Dreeshen to the International Trade Committee to lead the party’s dealings on NAFTA and various trade files. “Canada, and especially Alberta, are faced with great uncertainly due to the trade mismanagement and continued failures of the Trudeau Liberal government,” said Dreeshen, who wants a continued opportunity to take Conservative platforms to Ottawa.

The local Conservative association is expected to make a decision on who its candidate will be on Dec. 15. So far, no one else has announced they want to run for the nomination.

( although doubtful he represents a serious threat to current mp Scott Brison I see a benefit for the conservatives to nominate some candidates early on the east coast where they have no seats currently )

West Hants man throws name in the ring for next federal election as Conservative candidate

The Spectator
Published: Oct. 11, 2017, 2:12 p.m.

Bob Morton, a manager of a food supply company and active member of the Conservative Party of Canada in Hants County is planning a run for the seat of Kings-Hants during the next federal election, if he’s elected by the riding association.

WINDSOR, N.S. – Didn’t we just have a federal election? It might feel that way, but Oct. 2019 will be here before we know it.

Bob Morton, who has been an active member of the provincial and federal Conservative party in Hants County, has decided to let his intentions known early.

This doesn’t mean that Morton will for sure be on the ballot, the candidate selection process for the riding association has opened, and if more candidates for the party come forward, the association will need to have an election.

“I’m the first nominee to step forward, but anybody who would like to are still able to,” Morton said.

There’s no set date as of yet when nominations will close or when candidates will be selected.

“I see a need in the area, I believe people want change,” he said. “Where I work, I have the opportunity to speak to a lot of people, young families, farmers, family doctors and one common denominator is that they’re frustrated with some of the policies, most recently this new tax policy.”

The new tax proposal looks to limit passive business income taxation; targets methodology for changing income into dividends or capital gains; and targets income sprinkling, which allows business owners to split income among family members whether or not they’re involved in the business.

That tax policy, which has been an item for contention amongst farmers, small business owners and doctors, has been a boon for conservative politicians looking to win favour from voters.

“Right now we have an Ottawa voice that comes back to preach to us here and people in Kings-Hants, we need a voice in Ottawa,” he said. “I think I can be that strong voice.”

The seat is currently held by Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, and has been MP for the riding since 1997.

Brison won the last election in 2015 with over 70 per cent of the vote.

Morton said he expects people in Kings-Hants will be looking for change in the next election.

“Scott’s been here for two decades and people are looking for new ideas and they need a voice,” he said. “I believe more now then ever people want change, and I think I’m that change.”

This isn’t the first time Morton has attempted a run, he put his name forward as a candidate during the last provincial election, but lost the nomination to Janice Munroe Dodge.

The Conservative Party recently elected Andrew Scheer as it’s new leader, and Morton says he believes Scheer will lead the party to new heights in 2019.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet Scheer, he’s personable, a family man,” he said. “He has a desire to serve all Canadians.”

According to the CBC Poll Tracker, an amalgamation of federal polling averages across the country, the Liberals remain fairly popular and if an election were held today, would likely form the next government. But things can definitely change in the next couple of years.

The federal NDP have also recently elected a new leader in Jagmeet Singh, but how the results of that election play out remain unknown at this point.

Morton said he expects the tax issue will continue to resonate with Canadians and help the CPC form the next government.

Morton is a manager of an agricultural food supply company and lives in Garland’s Crossing with his family.

( as previously mentioned there appears to be a nomination battle looming in the Ontario riding of Simcoe Grey )

Essa mayor, Collingwood OBGYN to challenge Kellie Leitch

Terry Dowdall, Gillian Yeates plan to apply to be nominees

News Nov 06, 2017 by John Edwards  Collingwood Connection|

It appears Simcoe-Grey MP Kellie Leitch will have competition for the Conservative Party nomination for the 2019 federal election.

Terry Dowdall, deputy warden for the County of Simcoe and Essa Township mayor, as well as Dr. Gillian Yeates, an OBGYN from Collingwood, will be throwing their hats in the ring.

The party’s nomination procedure allows individuals to become candidates for the nomination as long they submit a nomination form by Dec. 15. Those interested must include a petition featuring 50 names of current party members who live in the riding.

Dowdall is in his second term as Mayor of Essa after having served seven years as deputy mayor. Dowdall operated the Baxter Corner Store for 20 years. He is married with two children.

“As mayor of Essa Township and deputy warden of the County of Simcoe, I’ve got my ear to the ground of the concerns, in the County of Simcoe,” he said in an interview with simcoe.com. “I have the interest of helping the people and representing the people. I think we need a strong party going into the 2019 election.”

Yeates graduated from Harvard University where she played on the varsity hockey team and attended medical school at Dalhousie. She operated a practice in Collingwood since 2000.

Yeates said she wants to see the party run on a platform that focuses on acceptance and equal opportunity for people.

“I feel strongly there needs to be changes and changes on how we are addressing our public and presenting ourselves as a country,” she said. “Sometimes there is something that says this is a need, and this needs to change and that’s why I am doing it.”

Yeates said the timing for her is good as both her kids are older and she has the opportunity to bring someone else on to her practice.

“The one thing I wouldn’t do is leave my patients without appropriate care,” she said.

Yeates said she would make a good candidate because she’s a good listener and is aware of the challenges faced by residents of the riding.

“I listen and I have a responsibility to the people of this area,” she said

Getting nominees in place in Atlantic Canada early is a good idea.
Its a wasteland for non-LPC candidates currently and having candidates knocking on doors and meeting with the community early and often is a smart way to get in front of the electorate.

Getting nominees in place in Atlantic Canada early is a good idea.
Its a wasteland for non-LPC candidates currently and having candidates knocking on doors and meeting with the community early and often is a smart way to get in front of the electorate.

it seems like the conservatives only logical option out east to nominate early , at least in some of the ridings , but its always good to keep some open in case any star candidates emerge and need a riding as the election gets closer .

considering the liberals hold all the ridings , and spending money in the region like crazy its going to be an uphill climb in most of those ridings , but giving the candidates some extra time to get know and develop a profile might help at least I can't see how it hurt there chances

Current Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen is seeking re-election for 2019 and he will be running as a member of the Conservative Party under Andrew Sheer’s leadership.

Kitchen has expressed a great deal of concern over the cancelation of the Energy East pipeline. He noted that the current Liberal government has plans to send infrastructure money overseas instead of keeping that money within Canada.

Kitchen has additionally expressed concern for farmers and ranchers who see the current Liberal government as an inhibitor to their success in the marketplace.

“They are having huge impacts on our farmers, ranchers and on our oil businesses that have seen a big downturn over the last couple of years. We saw the Liberals basically step in the way of the Energy East pipeline,” said Kitchen.

“My other issue is trying to make Canadians understand the great steps that farmers are doing with the sequestration of carbon through their crop rotations, we get no credit for that and those are things I would look forward to championing,” said Kitchen.

Kitchen has intent if elected to continue his support for the carbon capture and storage process for coal fired power plants that are here within the Estevan area.

“Next term in office I would hope that we will be in government because the present Liberal government is putting in polices that are affecting rural Canada in particular Souris–Moose Mountain and these polices are detrimental to the economy,” said Kitchen.

Kitchen also spoke of his tenure as vice-chair of the parliamentary committee on Veterans Affairs.

“My role was the vice chair of Veterans Affairs for two years and that has been a tremendous honour and privilege for me to have been on that committee. It is a role that I enjoyed tremendously,” said Kitchen.

2015 was the first year that Kitchen was elected to represent Souris–Moose Mountain in Ottawa in the 2015 federal election. Kitchen has always taken issue for what he called the Liberal governments reckless spending and an attack on natural resource production and small businesses.

If re-elected Kitchen is looking forward to continuing to grow as a candidate and learning more about how to best serve the people in his riding.

“Every day there is something new and I am a big proponent of continuous learning, as long as I am learning something new everyday and I am doing that I look forward to progressing with that,” said Kitchen.

"I’ll take help wherever I can get it, but I'm going to focus on my own campaign," says Chris Sweet, who wants to run for the Conservatives in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas in the 2019 federal election. He's the son of David Sweet, who represents the neighbouring riding.

David Sweet and his son hope to become a rare instance of father/son MPs. Two years from now, MP David Sweet will run again in Flamborough-Glanbrook, while his son Chris hopes to run in the neighbouring riding.

Chris Sweet, 33, launched his nomination campaign last week. He wants to run in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas under the Conservative banner in the 2019 federal election.

His dad has been a Hamilton-area Conservative MP since 2006, and will run again in 2019.

Chris Sweet "wants to make sure, and rightly so, that he differentiates himself," said David Sweet, 60.

"There are obviously going to be some similarities. We're running for the same party. He's my son."

But "he'll be running his own campaign, and of course, dealing with constituents who are entirely separate from Flamborough-Glanbrook."

David Sweet
David Sweet, Conservative MP for Flamborough-Glanbrook, hosted then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a campaign event in Hamilton in 2015. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

If both Sweets won in two years, it wouldn't be Canada's first case of a dad and son serving in the House of Commons at the same time. In the 1970s, Réal Caouette of the now-defunct Social Credit party served at the same time as his son Gilles.

Chris Sweet said he's not really thinking about any of that.

"It's neither here nor there," he said. "I'm just going to work hard."

Younger Sweet will have a tougher battle

Chris Sweet lived in Ancaster — where his dad still lives — for 17 years, and lives on the west Mountain now with his wife Annie.

One of five Sweet kids, Chris owns a business planning, hosting and directing music for events. He's also acted in numerous local theatre roles.

David Sweet's riding of Flamborough-Glanbrook is more solidly Conservative than the riding his son hopes to tackle. The elder Sweet won the riding with 43.5 per cent of the vote in 2015. That was nearly 3,000 votes ahead of Liberal Jennifer Stebbing, who has already said she wants to run again.

Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, meanwhile, is Liberal right now, and most parts of it are red provincially as well. Liberal Filomena Tassi defeated Conservative Vincent Samuel in the 2015 federal election by nearly 10,000 votes, or 47.68 per cent of the vote.

A local provincial PC candidate is connected to David Sweet too. Ben Levitt works in Sweet's office and will run for the Ontario PC party against Liberal Ted McMeekin in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas in June.

Conservatives open nominations in their 92 held ridings, but deny new rules ‘advantageous’ to incumbent Tory MPs

Nomination contests in held ridings opened up on Nov. 1, and challengers must file their applications to the party by Dec. 15. If a challenger intends to run against an incumbent Conservative MP, the challenger needs to submit a petition supporting their candidacy with at least 50 signatures from existing riding association members by 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15.

The Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer, has opened up the nomination process in held ridings. Challengers to sitting MPs for nominations must file their applications with the party by Dec. 15.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

By ABBAS RANA

PUBLISHED :Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 12:00 AM

With new nomination rules in place that some describe as “advantageous” to incumbent Conservative MPs, the federal party has opened up nominations in held ridings, but Conservatives deny the charge that they are favouring MPs in the 2019 nomination process.

The nominations in the Conservative-held ridings opened up on Nov. 1 under the new rules finalized by the Conservative Party’s national council in late October. These nominations are open in 92 ridings where there has not been a byelection held in this Parliament. In 2015, Conservatives won 99 of the 338 seats, but seven seats became vacant for a variety of reasons since then. Conservatives MPs who were elected in byelections since 2015 are exempted from nomination challenges for the 2019 election.

According to the new rules, if a challenger intends to run against an incumbent Conservative MP, the challenger needs to submit a petition supporting their candidacy with at least 50 signatures from existing riding association members by 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15.

Also, the challenger will be interviewed by the local Candidate Nomination Committee, consisting of three members from the local riding association executive, two “members at large” of the riding association, and either a representative of the executive director of the national party, or the executive director. If a majority of the Candidate Nomination Committee decides to reject the challenger’s application, they can make the recommendation to the National Candidate Selection Committee, which can accept or reject the recommendation. If a challenger’s application is rejected for nomination, the party may not necessarily give the candidate the reason why his or her application has been denied.

Mohinder Banga, an Edmonton City municipal councillor, who filed an application for the Conservative Party nomination in 2015, but was rejected without being told why, said that the new Conservative Party nomination rules are advantageous to the incumbent MPs. Mr. Banga, a former Edmonton City police officer, last week said that the party should be transparent in at least letting the candidate know why they’re rejecting someone’s application. There were several cases in the Conservative Party nomination process in held ridings last time where potential candidates were barred from seeking the party nomination without being told why. Some complained that the party was favouring the sitting MPs.

Mr. Banga also said that, in 2015, he did not have to get the signatures for his candidacy support from only existing members, but was allowed to sign up new members. In the last election cycle, potential candidates were required to get signatures from only 25 members.

“Incumbents sure have an advantage, it should be a democratic process, election process, not a selection process,” said Mr. Banga, now in his second term as municipal councillor.

“When they say they can say no without any reason, that’s not fair, there has to be a reason. They just told me ‘Mo, they don’t have to tell me a reason.’ That wasn’t fair.”

Mr. Banga said he is happy in his current position as municipal councillor, and has no plans to seek federal Conservative Party nomination for 2019.

In interviews last week, some party organizers and Hill staffers also described the process “advantageous” to incumbent MPs. They pointed out that challengers, this time, have to get the petition signed by existing local riding association members, and cannot sign up new party members, which makes their job harder, giving an advantage to MPs.

Also, they questioned why the party opened up the nomination process in held ridings two years ahead of 2019, and gave potential challengers only six weeks to get signatures and complete the cumbersome and lengthy paper work that requires a significant amount of time. They said unless some challengers were already plotting with “heads-up from the party,” it’s highly unlikely that many incumbent MPs will be challenged.

“These rules are kind of a surprise. We got the email on Nov. 1, without any advance notice that the party was coming up with these rules and [that they] will be implemented right away,” said one party organizer.

“I don’t think there will be many surprises [nomination challenges]. Unless someone had heads-up from the party, I don’t think anyone can meet this deadline with the required 50 signatures from existing members.”

These sources also pointed out that in an overwhelming majority of held ridings, incumbent MPs ensure that loyal supporters hold executive positions on electoral district association boards. So, the Candidate Selection Committee could unfairly recommend the rejection of a challenger’s candidacy to the national party.

But Cory Hann, director of communications to the Conservative Party, rejected the suggestion that the nomination process puts challengers at a disadvantage.

“I wouldn’t say so,” said Mr. Hann. “We’ve opened up all the ridings. Any Conservative Party member can run in it. Anyone can challenge an incumbent; this is part of our process. I wouldn’t necessarily argue that it’s advantageous for anyone.”

Conservative Party director of communications Cory Hann. The Hill Times file photo

Later, in an email to The Hill Times he said that if a challenger felt during the process that the Candidate Nomination Committee had unfairly recommended his or her rejection, the final decision rests with the party. The challenger could also file an appeal against such rejection.

“While made up of three board members, two members at large of the EDA, and the executive director of the party or their designate, they don’t make the final determination of candidate eligibility,” Mr. Hann wrote. “They make a recommendation to the National Candidate Selection Committee which is made up of national councillors. They can choose to accept or reject that recommendation. The candidate applicant also has an appeals process they can use that would be taken to National Council more broadly.”

Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai (Calgary Forest Lawn, Alta.) told The Hill Times that he accepted the new nomination rules for MPs, and declined to comment on whether the rules are fair to challengers. He said that if any party member had any objection to these rules, they could contact the party.

“I’m fine [with the rules], this is what the party decided. The party makes the decision and that’s fine,” said Mr. Obhrai. “If anybody has a beef, they can write to the party who made the decisions, I didn’t make the decisions. I have no comment on this. The party said this is in the best interest of the party.”

Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai. The Hill Times file photo

This is the second time since 2015 the party has introduced rule changes for the nomination of incumbent Conservative MPs.

In May of last year, Dustin Van Vugt, the executive director of the Conservative Party, told caucus members that they could ward off nomination challenges if they had $150,000 in their riding association bank account and at least one per cent of electors in their electoral district association signed up as party members.

But numerous Conservative MPs, especially from rural ridings, objected at the time that the $150,000 threshold was too high as it is harder to raise funds in rural regions of the country. So, after that, the party consulted MPs, riding associations and rank and file party members, and announced the new rules on Nov. 1.

Meanwhile, in an email to party members on Nov. 1, Conservative Party President Scott Lamb wrote that the nomination process has been opened up in held ridings as part of an effort to get ready for 2019 and “to make Justin Trudeau a one-term” prime minister.

“Why are we beginning the nomination process now? Simple: We need to be ready,” Mr. Lamb wrote in an email on Nov. 1.

“We are only two years from the next election, and to make Justin Trudeau a one-term Prime Minister, our election readiness must start today. Andrew Scheer has already started to build a strong team that will defeat Justin Trudeau in 2019, and we will continue building it from now until the next election.”

Since 2015, seven Conservative-held seats have become vacant. Late Alberta Conservative MP Jim Hillyer’s (Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, Alta.) seat became vacant in October of last year because he died of heart attack. And six Conservatives resigned from their seats to pursue other opportunities, including former prime minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Heritage, Alta.), Jason Kenney (Calgary Midnaporte, Alta.), Rona Ambrose (Sturgeon River-Parkland, Alta.), Denis Lebel (Lac-Saint-Jean, Que.), Dianne Watts (South Surrey-White Rock, B.C.), and Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, Sask.).

Mr. Hann told The Hill Times that the party has not decided yet when the nominations in unheld ridings will be opened up.

( it appears a number of current mp's were acclaimed as candidates this week , although not sure of which ones exactly , but is some from Ontario )

John Brassard‏Verified account @JohnBrassardCPC · 16h16 hours ago

I look forward to being the @CPC_HQ Candidate for #Barrie #Innisfil in the 2019 federal election after being acclaimed late this afternoon. It is an honour to serve as the Member of Parliament and I appreciate the support of our EDA Executive Board and membership. #cdnpoli

Bob Saroya, MP‏Verified account @BobSaroya · 15h15 hours ago

Proud to announce I was acclaimed the Conservative candidate for Markham-Unionville. Looking forward to carrying our party banner under the Hon. @AndrewScheer in the 2019 election. Serving as the federal representative these past two years has been the honour of my life. #cdnpoli

I am honoured to be running as your Federal Conservative Nomination Candidate in Ottawa West - Nepean. Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign by signing up for a party membership or making a donation. Your support thus far is outstanding! https://youtu.be/tKnT7V3VG6g

( there appears to be at least 6 current cpc mp's who will have to face a nomination meeting in order to run again )

Leitch, Trost among Tory MPs facing challenge for right to run in 2019 election

By Stephanie Levitz. Published on Dec 19, 2017 8:27am

Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch speaks at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, on Monday March 20, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Three Conservative MPs who sought the party’s leadership earlier this year are bracing for a fight to represent the party at all come the 2019 election.

Kellie Leitch, Brad Trost and Deepak Obhrai are among several sitting MPs facing nomination challenges for the next federal vote. Trost and Leitch say they don’t see the challenges as connected to their failed leadership bids and they are both running again as well for the party’s nod.

The deadline for filing to challenge incumbent MPs for Conservative nominations was Friday.

The next step is for the riding associations to approve the candidates and after that, for elections to be held at some point next year.

In addition to the three leadership contenders, at least three other current MPs face challengers.

Leitch finished sixth in the leadership race, running on a platform that included, among other things, a controversial call for a values test for new Canadians.

She’s kept a relatively low profile in the House of Commons since, but said she continues to enjoy the support of people in her riding.

“Our party has an open nomination process and I agree with it,” she said in a brief interview.

“It’s part of a healthy process and evidence of a strong party.”

Gillian Yeates, a Harvard-educated physician seeking to challenge Leitch, declined to comment until after her candidacy is formally approved.

But in an interview with a local news outlet last month, she said the riding needed a change.

“I feel strongly there needs to be changes and changes on how we are addressing our public and presenting ourselves as a country,” she told Simcoe.com.

“Sometimes there is something that says this is a need and this needs to change and that’s why I am doing it.”

Trost says he has met with Brad Redekopp, the local businessman challenging him, and is ready for a fight if the application is accepted.

“I will know for sure in the first week of January if he got everything together and his Is dotted and his Ts crossed.”

“I’m preparing as if he has, but he may not have.”

Redekopp declined to comment, saying his campaign will issue a statement in the coming days.

Obhrai was the first to drop off the ballot in last May’s vote.

He’s currently the longest-serving Conservative MP and had said at the party’s summer caucus meeting he intended to run again.

In a post to his social media pages over the weekend, Obhrai called news of a challenger for his Calgary-area seat a “conspiracy” and he’ll fight it.

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